Wear assembly

ABSTRACT

A wear part for earthmoving equipment may include an exterior surface having a hole, and a lifting connector secured in the hole and movable between a lifting position where the lifting connector can be coupled to a lifting device and a recessed position where at least part of the lifting connector is positioned farther from the exterior surface than when in the lifting position.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure pertains to a connector to facilitate the lifting of heavy loads, and in particular wear parts for earthmoving equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In mining and construction, wear parts (e.g., teeth, shrouds, and blades) are commonly provided along the digging edge of excavating equipment such as buckets for dragline machines, cable shovels, face shovels, hydraulic excavators, graders, dozers, and the like. The wear parts protect the underlying equipment from undue wear and, in some cases, also perform other functions such as breaking up the ground ahead of the digging edge. During use, the wear parts typically encounter heavy loading and highly abrasive conditions. As a result, they must be periodically replaced.

These wear parts usually comprise two or more components such as a base that is secured (e.g. welding, fastened, being cast with, etc.) to the digging edge, and a wear member that mounts on the base to engage the ground. The wear member tends to wear out more quickly and is typically replaced a number of times before the base must also be replaced. One example of such a wear part is an excavating tooth that is attached to the lip of a bucket for an excavating machine. A tooth typically includes an adapter secured to the lip of a bucket and a point attached to the adapter to initiate contact with the ground. A pin or other kind of lock is used to secure the wear member to the adapter.

These wear parts are heavy and cannot be easily lifted. New wear parts are typically designed with cast lifting eyes integrally connected to the wear parts. As the wear parts contact the material to be excavated the integral lifting eyes are worn away leaving no way to gain an attachment on the worn wear part. To remove the worn wear part some operators simply let the parts fall to the ground when the lock is removed or use a hammer to knock the wear part from the base if fines prevent the release of the components. The uncontrolled falling of the wear part and the use of a hammer subject the operators to risks. Moreover, the operators are still left with needing to move the wear parts from the ground to a discard pile or bin.

Another common way to remove the worn wear parts is with a complex rigging arrangement using chains, straps, or other mechanisms to secure the wear part. However, during removal, the installer can still be in potential risk if the rigging arrangements are unsecure and slip or create pinch points. Additionally, rigging arrangements that require chains, straps, or other mechanisms to go under the worn wear parts can be problematic when rigging is removed. Once the wear part is moved to the discard pile the rigging arrangements may be under the wear part requiring the operator roll or move the worn wear part to remove the rigging arrangement.

Another alternative way to maneuver the worn wear part is to weld a lifting ring onto the part. This is not desirable because mobile welding equipment is needed at the machine site. Welding on site is prohibited at many mine sites as welding imposes a risk of injury. In addition, wear parts tend to be composed of very hard steel which requires a careful and time consuming process to achieve a high quality weld. If there is a poor weld the lifting eye may be separated from the wear part causing uncontrolled movement of the wear part. These kind of removal requirements increase the amount of downtime required to replace wear parts and decreases productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure pertains to a connector to facilitate connecting of a wear member to a lifting device. The orientation of the wear part does not dictate the safety of the removal environment; the connector allows the wear part to be installed and removed safely in any convenient orientation.

In one example, a lifting connector has a loop for connecting to a lifting device. A formation in the wear part cooperates with the loop to create a positive engagement within the wear part for securing the lifting connector to the wear part.

In another example, a wear part for earthmoving equipment includes an exterior surface, a hole, and a lifting connector secured in the hole and movable between a lifting position where the lifting connector can be coupled to a lifting device and a recessed position where at least part of the lifting connector is positioned farther from the exterior surface than when in the lifting position.

In another example of the disclosure, a wear part for earthmoving equipment includes a mechanically attached lifting connector (optionally a wire loop) for attachment to lifting equipment. For example, the wear part includes a hole with at least a projection where the connector is secured within the hole in first and second positions, wherein the first position is located below an outer surface of the wear part and the second position is able to be used for lifting the wear part. In some examples, the hole may be covered with a plug.

In another example, a wear part includes a first hole and a base includes a second hole, such that within the first and second holes a lifting connector is captured. The wear part further includes a lifting connector attached to an inner wall. In such cases, a wear cap may cover a portion of the second hole to capture the lifting connector in a first position. When the wear cap is removed, the lifting connector may be situated into a second position.

In yet another example of the disclosure, a mechanically attached lifting connector is installed in the wear part at the time of manufacture so that the mechanical lifting connector is shipped, stored, and installed as an integral part of the wear part.

In some examples the lifting connector is a wire loop and anchor. In other examples, the lifting connector is a rigid member or a rigid member having a joint with an anchor.

A further example of the disclosure pertains to a manufacturing process where a lifting connector is installed onto a wear member. In this process, a connector is installed from the cavity of the wear part and into a lifting connector aperture through a bottom opening. The lifting connector may be rotated into place and pulled such that a stop surface engages a socket of the lifting connector and a projection maintains the lifting connector in a shipping position. The connector has a coupling (optionally a loop) for connecting to lifting equipment. The lifting equipment is operated to maneuver the wear part onto or off of the earthmoving equipment.

In one other example, a wear member for earth working equipment includes a wearable body for contacting earthen material during use and a coupler. The wearable body has a center of gravity, an exterior surface, and an interior surface defining a rearward facing mounting opening for mounting to a base. The coupler facilitates engagement with a lifting device, wherein the coupler is secured to the wearable body at a location beneath the exterior surface and rearward of the center of gravity of the wearable body.

The advantages of the lifting connector and wear assemblies of the present disclosure will be more readily understood after considering the drawings and the Detailed Description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wear assembly including a wear member, a base, and a lock according to the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the wear assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second wear assembly including an intermediate adapter, a base, and a lock according to the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a partial top view of the wear member and attachment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial bottom view of the wear member and attachment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the wear member with the attachment being installed.

FIG. 7 is a cross section view of the wear member with the attachment in a shipping position taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a cross section view of the wear member with the attachment in a lifting position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the wear assembly of FIG. 1 being attached to rigging equipment after the wear member has worn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure pertains to a connector to facilitate the lifting of heavy parts (such as wear parts) for earthmoving equipment by a lifting device. The lifting device may be, for example, a hoist, a crane, a robot, or other known lifting devices that can be used to lift wear parts. The inventive aspects of the present disclosure are described in this application in relation to a lifting connector particularly suited for use with a worn and/or new wear parts used for earth working equipment.

An example wear assembly 10 according to an example of the present disclosure is shown in FIGS. 1-2. The wear assembly 10 includes a wear member 12, a base 68, and a lock 14. In another example, a wear assembly 10 may only be composed of the wear member 12 and lock 14, which may be sold, shipped, stored, and/or installed as a single unit. The wear member 12 includes a wearable body having a front working end 16 and a rear mounting end 19 with a cavity 21 defined by an inner surface 22. The illustrated wear member 12 includes an optional lifting eye 15. A lifting connector aperture 23 on a top surface 25 of the wear member 12 passes through the wear member 12 and opens into the cavity 21, but other configurations are possible (e.g. a blind hole). A lifting connector 20 secured to the wear member 12 can be accessed via aperture 23. In some examples, the lifting connector aperture 23 may include a cap or plug over it. The plug may be threaded into the lifting connector aperture. A wear member 12 with a hole 23 to mechanically attach a lifting connector 20 may in some cases be easier and/or less costly to manufacture than a wear member with an integral cast or forged lifting eye 15. For example, as wear members with integral cast lifting eyes are cast, the lifting eyes cool faster than the body of the wear part, which, can lead to a variety of casting quality problems. Also, the cast lifting eyes 15 may not survive to a complete worn state of the wear member and may need to be replaced with welded lifting eyes at the time of removal.

The illustrated lifting connector 20 is centrally located on the top 25 and oriented along a longitudinal axis 35—though a small lateral deviation is possible. The lifting connector 20 may be located rearward of a center of gravity (CG) for wear member 12 (FIG. 2). This rearward location can lead to safer handling of a worn wear member to be removed and replaced as the center of gravity of a worn wear member will be rearward of the center of gravity of a new component. That is, with the anchor for the lifting connector aligned with or nearer to the center of gravity of a worn part, the worn wear member will experience less swinging and/or tipping when removed from the base and supported by the lifting device connected to lifting connector 20. The longitudinal axis 35 can be generally defined as the straight line through the center of a front wall in the cavity and the direction of when the base is installed into mounting cavity 21. While the working end 16 is shown as a linear bit projection from mounting end 19, it need not be; the bit may be offset from the longitudinal axis 35 and/or have a variety of shapes. The lifting connector aperture 23 may be located elsewhere (e.g., on sidewalls) and/or in more than one location so as to provide a plurality of lifting connectors 20 for cooperative and/or alternative use in lifting the wear part 12. In other examples, the lifting connector 20 may alternatively be flipped in orientation, sideways, or some combination, such that the lifting connector 20 pivots forward, sideways, or some combination.

In another example, the lifting connector may be located on the rear mounting end. In such cases, the lifting aperture may be formed by holes in the adapter and point. In one example, a first hole in the point is located in the cavity and the second hole is located on an exterior of the base. In one example, the lifting connector may be rigid structure with a joint or a flexible member. In such cases, a wear cap may hold the lifting connector in a down or first position. When the wear cap is removed a second position for the lifting connector could be accomplished.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, another wear assembly 110 is illustrated. The wear member is an intermediate adapter 112 with a nose 117 to support a tip (not shown) on one end and a cavity 117′ to receive a nose of a base 168 on the other end. Base 168 could be, e.g., an adapter or projection on a cast lip, but other configurations are possible. The adapter 112 is secured to the base with lock 114 and includes a lifting aperture 123. Locks 114 are used to releasably secure the wear member to the base such as, e.g., disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,222,243 (incorporated herein by reference). Locks 114 could be used to secure tip (not shown) to an intermediate adapter 112, and the intermediate adapter 112 to nose of an adapter 168. Herein, a wear assembly component (e.g., an intermediate adapter) may be referred to as either a wear member and/or base depending on whether in the context of the discussion the component is supporting a wear member and/or is itself being supported by a base.

For ease of discussion, the mounting of a point 12 to a base 68 is disclosed herein but other kinds of wear members and/or other kinds of earth working equipment could be used. For example, while the wear members are points 12 in the FIGS. 1-2, the wear members provided with lifting connector(s) 20 could be other components such as adapters, intermediate adapters, shrouds, cutter heads, wing shrouds, runners, wear tiles, track pads, crushing components (e.g., sizer teeth, mantles, etc.), etc., which are all used in earth working operations. The disclosure is not meant to be limited to buckets as a support structure for tooth components. The support structures could also be, e.g., dredge cutter heads, rolling drums, blades, crushers, truck trays, undercarriage, etc. In this application, relative terms such as upper, lower, inner, outer, forward, rearward, vertical, or horizontal are used for convenience of explanation with reference to FIG. 1; other orientations are possible.

With reference to FIGS. 4-7, the lifting connector aperture 23 is described herein as having two portions referred to as an outer opening portion 28 and an inner opening portion 30. The outer opening 28 is generally defined by a front surface 32, an opposite rear surface 36, flank surfaces 40-41 diverging from rear surface 36, and side surfaces 42-43 converging from flank surfaces 42, 43 to front surface 32. The outer opening portion may be smaller than the inner opening portion as this would reduce the surface area open to the elements of the working environment and improve manufacturability. This is one example and other constructions are possible.

In the illustrated example, projections 55, 55′ are situated on flank surfaces 40, 41, respectively. In other examples, only one projection may be situated on an inner surface. The projections 55, 55′ create stop surfaces for positioning the lifting connector 20, such that it can be enabled to be held in two different positions, though other arrangements are possible. Each projection 55, 55′ extends from its respective flank surface and into aperture 23. In the illustrated example, the projections 55, 55′ are oriented to converge towards each other and be generally triangularly shaped with rounded corners 57, though other constructions are possible. The illustrated projections 55, 55′ may each include a first holding surface 59 and a second holding surface 61. In another example, the stop surfaces may be formed in recesses in the wall(s) of hole 23 to hold lifting connector 20 in the recessed or engagement positions. For example, the strand(s) of connector 20 may expand into such recesses. As another example, the connector may include one or more projection to fit into the recesses. Other alternatives are possible.

The inner opening 30 generally has two pockets 45, 46. The pockets 45 communicates with the other pocket 46 through a channel 48 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The accessing pocket 45 is illustrated as being larger than the supporting pocket 46. The rear surface 36 is inclined in this example to partially meet with the interior wall 51 of the channel 48 (FIG. 6-7). The channel interior 51 communicates with the interior surface 50 of the pocket 46. The pocket interior 50 includes a stop surface 52 that engages the anchor 49 to capture the lifting connector 20 in place as will be further discussed below. The channel 48 includes an open inner side 54 defining two projections 56, 56′. The projections 56, 56′ also aid in capturing the lifting connector 20. The flank surfaces 40, 41 extend further rearward on the inner opening portion 30 than on the outer opening portion 28. The flank surfaces 40, 41 are adjacent the two projections 56, 56′ on the inner opening 30. The flank surfaces 40, 41 may conform to the shape of the lifting connector or be further spaced from the lifting connector. The pocket interior 50 and channel 48 are sized and shaped to fit the lifting connector 20 therethrough as will be further discussed below.

A shelf surface 58 is situated at the bottom of curved surface 32. The shelf surface 58 creates a ridge projecting rearward. The shelf surface 58 in this example includes an inclined outer surface 60 (FIGS. 7-8). The outer surface 60 engages a coupling portion 62 of the lifting connector 20. In the illustrated example, the shelf surface 58 makes the first pocket 45 shorter than the outer opening 28. In some examples, the first pocket 45 may have a larger opening than the outer opening 28. The larger outer opening 28 has the benefit of increasing the space for an end user to manually maneuver the lifting connector 20. The shelf surface 58 and projections 56, 56′ act as a stop to restrain the lifting connector 20 from falling through the inner opening 30 and into the mounting cavity 21. In another example, the inner opening 30 may instead include two corner ledges (not shown) located between front surface 32 and side surfaces 42, 43 and/or along side surfaces 42, 43 instead of or in addition to inclined outer surface 60.

Situated in the lifting connector aperture 23 is a lifting connector 20. In this example, the lifting connector 20 includes a coupler 47 and an anchor 49 at a base end of the coupler. In the illustrated example, the coupler can be a pliable loop composed of, e.g., wire, nylon, plastic, or other pliable material with the strength to hold the wear part. In another example, the coupler can be a rigid member secured to the anchor by a joint. In another example, a rigid member or an elastic joint may be used to create an anchor that permits movement from a first to a second position. Other kinds of lifting connectors could be used. The advantage of a coupler 47 are: 1) the tendency to return to its original shape; and 2) allows it to be more easily pulled up into the lifting position in compacted fines situations. For example, the leading end 62 that connects to a lifting device could include a rigid end, a threaded coupling, etc. to suit various kinds of lifting arrangements. In one example, a single wire could connect a leading end 62 having a particular coupling arrangement to the anchor 49. Likewise, though a socket for securing the wire cable is disclosed as the anchor in the illustrated example, the anchor could have other constructions for securing the connector 20 to the wear part 12. In the illustrated example, the coupler 47 is in the form of a lifting eye or loop 64. The loop 64 comprises a load bearing ring extending outward from the socket 49 for receipt of and connecting to approved rigging 98 (FIG. 9). The load bearing loop 64 allows the installer to utilize various approved forms of rigging 98 for maneuvering a worn wear part 212 quickly and safely without complex rigging arrangements. The socket 49 is a clamp which presses together ends of the coupler 47. Nevertheless, connector 20 could have other configurations such as a movable plate with an opening, a threaded collar to receive a threaded lifting connector, etc.

Referring to FIG. 6, a lifting connector 20 is shown prior to being installed into the lifting connector aperture 23. In the first step of the installation, the lifting connector 20 is inserted from the cavity 21 at the rear mounting end 19 of the wear member 12 into the inner opening 30. The lifting connector 20 may then be angled sideways such that the loop 64 is aligned with a vertical plane for insertion. Once inserted, the lifting connector 20 is pushed into the pocket 46 such that the socket 49 engages the stop surface 52. At this point, the lifting connector 20 may next be rotated 90 degrees such that the loop 64 is angled along a horizontal plane. In the fully installed position or shipping position or first position (FIG. 7), the leading portion 62 engages the inclined outer surface 60 and the loop 64 engages the inner holding surfaces 61 of the projections 55, 55′, but other configurations are possible. The projections 55, 55′, 56, 56′ and/or shelf surface 58 act to capture the lifting connector 20 into the lifting connector aperture 23, but other configurations are possible. Sufficient space remains between the projections 55, 55′ to enable the loop part 64 to be squeezed and/or rotated and put into a more upright position.

With reference to FIGS. 8-9, the lifting connector 20 is shown in a second position or lifting position. In the illustrated embodiment, coupler 47 in the lifting position is shown as being bent upward and rearward, but could be situated in other directions (e.g. forwardly, laterally, angled, etc.) depending upon how the lifting connector aperture 23 is oriented. In the second position, the loop 64 engages the outer holding surfaces 59 on at least one projection 55, 55′ to capture the loop 64 between the projection 55, 55′ and the rear surface 36. At least a portion of the loop 64 is situated above the exterior surface, which in this example is top surface 25 of the wear member 12 so as to engage with proper rigging, but other configurations are possible. The stop surface 52 resists the lifting connector 20 from being pulled out of the lifting connector aperture 23, such that a rigging component 98 may be attached to the loop 64 (FIG. 9). The use of projections 55, 55′ and rear surface 36 enables connector 20 to be arranged in predetermined orientations relative to the wear member 12. The lifting equipment can maneuver the wear part onto or off of the earthmoving equipment in a controlled manner without the fear of connector 20 disengaging or shifting significantly in the wear part.

With reference to FIG. 9, a worn wear member 212 and base 268 are illustrated. The worn wear part 212 (in this example a worn point), the base 268, and the lifting connector 220 are substantially similar to their counterparts in FIG. 1, with the exception that the worn wear member 212 has been worn down such that the front end 216 has moved rearward and the lifting eye 15 has been worn off. The lifting eye 15 is located forward or aligned with the center of gravity of the wear member, so that the wear member 12 remains substantially horizontal or with a modest inclination with the front end 16 raised during lift for easy installation. The center of gravity shifts rearward as the wear member becomes worn. The lifting connector 20 is placed rearward of the center of gravity for a new wear member.

In the illustrated example, the lifting connector 220 is located at about the center of gravity of the worn wear member 212, which is a different location than when the wear member is new. The lifting connector 220 is in the proper service position outward of the lifting connector aperture 223, so that approved forms of rigging 98 are attached to loop 264 and connected to lifting equipment for the wear member 212. The lifting connector 220 may also be used in installation as well. The lifting connector 220 may be reverted back to the shipping or first position during operation of the equipment.

In another example, a wear member and an intermediate adapter are installed and removed as an assembly. The wear member and intermediate adapter are assembled and secured with one or more locks. The wear member and intermediate adapter are secured together as the lifting connector lifts both wear member and adapter as an assembly. The assembled wear parts are maneuvered to a nose or adapter secured to the lip of a bucket. The intermediate adapter is slid onto the nose or adapter. In the case of removal, the wear member and intermediate adapter as a unit are placed in a disposal area. 

I/We claim:
 1. A wear part for earthmoving equipment comprising an exterior surface having a hole, and a lifting connector secured in the hole and movable between a lifting position where the lifting connector can be coupled to a lifting device and a recessed position where at least part of the lifting connector is positioned farther from the exterior surface than when in the lifting position.
 2. The wear part of claim 1 including stop surfaces in the hole to contact the lifting connector and thereby retain the lifting connector in each of the lifting and recessed positions.
 3. The wear part of claim 2 including at least one projection defining at least two of the stop surfaces where one of the two stop surfaces retains the lifting connector in the lifting position and the other of the two stop surfaces retains the lifting connector in the recessed position.
 4. The wear part of claim 1 wherein the lifting connector includes an anchor secured in the hole and a coupler movable between the lifting and recessed positions.
 5. The wear part of claim 1 wherein the coupler is a pliable loop.
 6. The wear part of claim 1 wherein the coupler is a rigid member.
 7. A wear part for earthmoving equipment comprising: an exterior surface having a hole having at least one projection therein; a lifting connector secured in the hole and movable between first and second positions, wherein in the first position the lifting connector is located on one side of the at least one projection and in the second position the lifting connector is located on an opposite side of the at least one projection.
 8. The wear part of claim 7, wherein the hole includes an upper opening portion and a lower opening portion, wherein the lower opening portion communicates with a cavity to receive a base to support the wear part.
 9. The wear part of claim 8, wherein the upper opening portion is smaller than the lower opening portion and opens in the exterior surface.
 10. The wear part of claim 8, wherein the lifting connector includes an anchor to secure the lifting connector in the hole and a loop to engage a lifting device, and wherein the lower opening portion includes two pockets with one said pocket receiving the loop and one said pocket receiving the anchor.
 11. The wear part of claim 7, wherein the lifting connector is located on a rear mounting end of the wear part.
 12. The wear part of claim 7, which is at least one of a runner, a point, a shroud, an adapter, or an intermediate adapter.
 13. The wear part of claim 7, wherein the lifting connector is a rigid structure.
 14. The wear part of claim 7, wherein the lifting connector includes a pliable loop.
 15. The wear part of claim 7, wherein the lifting connector is captured in the hole by a socket.
 16. A wear assembly for earthmoving equipment comprising: a base; a wear part including an exterior surface having a hole, and a lifting connector secured in the hole and movable between a lifting position where the lifting connector can be coupled to a lifting device and a recessed position where at least part of the lifting connector is positioned farther from the exterior surface than when in the lifting position; and a lock to secure the wear part to the base.
 17. The wear assembly of claim 16 wherein the wear part includes stop surfaces in the hole to contact the lifting connector and thereby retains the lifting connector in each of the lifting and recessed positions.
 18. The wear assembly of claim 17 including at least one projection defining at least two of the stop surfaces where one of the two stop surfaces retains the lifting connector in the lifting position and the other of the two stop surfaces retains the lifting connector in the recessed position.
 19. The wear assembly of claim 16, wherein the lifting connector is a rigid structure.
 20. The wear assembly of claim 16, wherein the lifting connector includes a wire loop.
 21. The wear assembly of claim 16, further comprising a wear cap positioned to cover the hole and hold the lifting connector in the recessed position.
 22. The wear assembly of claim 21, wherein the hole is defined by a portion of the hole being in the wear part and a second portion being in the base, and the wear cap covers the hole and hold the lifting connector in the recessed position.
 23. A wear member for earth working equipment comprising: a wearable body for contacting earthen material during use, the wearable body having a center of gravity, an exterior surface, and an interior surface defining an opening for mounting the wear member to a base; a coupler to facilitate engagement with a lifting device, wherein the coupler is secured to the wearable body at a location beneath the exterior surface and rearward of the center of gravity of the wearable body.
 24. The wear member of claim 23, wherein the coupler is adjustable between an active position where the coupler can connect to the lifting device and a stored position where at least a part of the coupler is located farther from the exterior surface than in the active position.
 25. The wear member of claim 23, wherein the coupler includes an anchor secured to the wearable body and a coupling device to connect to the lifting device that is movable relative to the anchor between the active and stored positions.
 26. The front most wear member of claim 23, wherein the coupling device includes a pliable loop. 